Toy railway crossover



Feb 5, 1924. 11,482,639 A. R. FERGUSSON TOY RAILWAY CROS SOVER Original Filed Feb. 15, 1923 Patented Feb. 5, 192 2 iE%TEB SThTESIPATENT is a @rriec,

ALAN FERGUSSON, OF BUFFALO, NEJJ YORK.

TOY EAILV/AY CBOSSOVEB.

Original application filed February 3, 1923, Serial No. 616,847. Divided and this application filed April 17, 1923. Serial No. 632,802.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALAN R. Fnnsusson, a citizen of the United States, residing at Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Toy Railway Crossovers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to crossovers for miniature or toy railways, and isa division of my co-pending application Serial No. 616,647, filed February 3, 1923, for toy railway crossovers. 4

An object of this invention is to provide an improved crossover adapted to be easily and efiectively connected or joined to a plurality of toy track sections, and which will be relatively cheap and easy to manufacture, strong, durable and efficient in use and operation.

A. further object of this invention is to provide a toy or miniature crossover section for a sectional toy or miniature railway, and wherein the crossover is provided with wire-formed rails, and wherein the crossover section together with the adjacent sections of the toy railway, form a portable structure adapted to be readily and easily assembled and knocked down.

A further object of this invention is to provide a toy railway crossover section having wire-formed rail members forming frog points, and also having intermediate rail portions stamped up from a single piece of sheet metal, the construction being such as to form a durable and strong crossing member.

A further object of this invention is to provide a toy railway crossover having means for releasably connecting certain of the rail ends thereof to the rail ends of adjacent track sections, and wherein certain of the rail ends are adapted to be te nsioned or contracted to form a spring or tension joint.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved toy or miniature cross over having means readily adapted to per mit the attachment of a detachable third or power rail thereto, and also having improved means for transmitting the current from a power rail at one side of the cross over to a power rail at another side thereof.

Other objects of this invention will ap pear in the following description and ap Renewed December 5, 1.923.

pended claims, reference'being had to the accompanying drawings forming a partof this specification, wherein like reference characters indicate corresponding parts in the several views, and wherein l is a plan view illustrating my invention; Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view partly broken away illustrating the same; and Fig. Sis a per-- spective view illustrating a part thereof.

Before explaining in detail the present improvement and mode of operation thereof, I desire to have it understood that the invention is not lirnted to the details of construction and arrangement of parts which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, since the invention is capable of other embodiments, and that the phraseology which I employ is for the purpose of dc-- scription and not of limitation.

The construction shown in the drawings is for a right angled crossover, but it will be understood that my invention is not lim ited to this form of crossover, but the parts thereof may be located at any desired angle or inclination.

The present improved crossover comprises in general a base or supporting plate previously cut to the required shape and form from a piece of sheet metal and stamped up or otherwise formed with spaced intermediate rail portions or ribs. Mounted upon this supporting plate in proper relation to the bent-up rail ribs are a plurality of cylindrical or wire rail members forming op positely located frog points. The ends of these wire rail members are preferably previded with means for releasably connecting the same to the rails of adjacent track sections, and in the present instance this means is adapted to form releasable spring joints with juxtaposed wire rails of the adjacem sections. As a result of the foregoing construction, a crossover or toy railway'crossing frog may be provided at a minimum of expense, due to the fact that the amount and cost of material used is reduced considerably as well as the number of steps In .the operation of forming the crossover.

The crossoverin the present instance is formed with four radiating arms 9 of similar construction and located at an angle to each other, herein shown at right angles to each other for the purposes of illustration. The crossover is provided with a central supporting plate, or bas 10 having the cen (ill tral portion thereof cut away at 11 and the edges thereoi lbent up or partially coiled to form spaced intermediate rail portions or ribs 12 located at an angle to each other. To each corner portion of the plate 10 is secured, as by welding, a wire, which is preferably slit substantially midway thereof and bent to form a frog point 13, and a pair of rail members 1-1- and 15. The rail members 14 of opposite arms of the crossover are located in alinement' with each other, and also. with a. rail member 12, so thatithese parts form a continuation of the alined rails oil. the track: sections, which are connected: to the crossover.

- her or guide plate 16. Each guide clamp 16 is provided at the lateral edges thereof with upwardly curved guide portions 17 adapted to receive the ends of the wire rails 14 or 15, the portion. 17 being preferably bent up or partially coiled to conform tothe shape of'the wire or cylindrical rails, and the ends ofthe latter. are preferably spot welded. thereto, as shownat 20. The guide portions 17 of each clamp plate project a suitable distance beyond the ends oft-he wire railsl, so asto' receive the free/spring ends 18 of an adjacent track section 19 and be interlocked therewith. In the present instance, the interlocking connection or jointis substantially a spring or tension joint, and preferably includes lugs or projections 21 pinched outwardly from the ends of the rails 18 and" adapted to be inserted into openings 22 in. the guide portions 17. In order to connect these parts, it is necessary to contract or tension-one or both of the ends of the rails 18 so as to permit the lugs 21 to clear. the guide portions 17 and. to spring into the openings 22. Each section 19 preferably comprises wire ties 23 for supporting the wire rails 18 and to which the rails are preferably spot welded, thereby providing a rigid, durable and cheap construction, It will be understood of course thatitrack. sections similar tosection 19 may be releasably connected'to the other arms of the crossover in the same manner as above. described;

Whereitfis'd'esired to utilize the crossoverwith an electrical toy railway, the same is providedwith suitable. terminal connections for transmitting power between the opposed third. rails. In the jipresent instance the. terminal. connecting means com-prises a piece of sheet metal. cut. tothe' required shape and stamped up to form a central raised" or hollow portion 24 adapted to extend into the central opening 11 in the plate 10. This hollow projecting portion 24; is provided with a plurality of radially extending arms 25, which extend in opposite directions across the underside of the base plate 10. Betweenthe arms-25 and the base plate is interposed a suitable strip of insulating material 26, and the arms 25 are each provided with lugs 27', which are clinched over theiside edges of the plate-10. Intermediate the lugs 27 each arm terminates in a spring contact member 28, and when the third. rail-29 is located in position the end of the third rail will bear down against spring' contact member 28; In this manner the current will be transmitted: between the separated. ends of" the opposed third rails.

It will be seen that the insulatingstrip 26, which is interposed between: the terminal connector Eel-25 is provided at opposite sides thereof with projecting. portions 30,

which are folded. over theedges of'the plate 10 and extend over upon the uppersurfaces thereof, the lugs or tongues 27 being clinched over the insulating portions 30 so" as to hold the same in: position.

Where the crossover is used. with an electrical toy railway, a wire-formed third rail 29 is detachably connected to each arnr 9 of the crossoyenthe detachable connection with each arm being. accomplished in" the present instance by means of a springclip 31. The clip 31 preferably comprises a channeled portion or gutter formed by curved side walls'32 into which the wire 29 may be sprungiand also readily released; This clip is bent underatits end to form a hook portion, which may be hooked over the notched edge 33 of the clamp plate 16', and a suitable strip of insulating. material 34: is interposed between the clip 31: and the plate 16, the ends of the strip beingv folded under and interposed between the bent end of the clip 31 and the bottom of theplate. A further detailed description of this construction is not believed to be necessary herein, as the same is fully described-L in my said co-pending' application, of which. this is a division.

It will be noted that when the third rail, 29 is inserted in the gutter formed by he spring walls 32 of the clip 31 and the lat-- ter is connected, as shown in. Fig. 1'to the clamp plate 16, the end of thethird rail will project beyond. the clip and engage the spring contact member 28" of the terminal connector, and when other third rails are inlike manner in position upon all the arms of the crossover, the current will be transmitted. by means. of the terminal connector from one pcwerirail to the otherunderneath the crossover;v

It is to be understood that by describing in detail herein any particular form, structure, or arrangement, it is not intended to limit the invention beyond the terms of the several claims or the requirements of the prior art.

Having thus explained the nature of my said invention and described a way of constructing and using the same, although without attempting to set forth all of the forms in which it may be made, or all of the modes of its use, I claim:

1. A toy crossover comprising a plurality of wire-formed rail members terminating in a frog point.

2. A toy crossover comprising a plurality of wire rails bent to form frog points.

3. In a toy railway, the combination of a supporting member, and a plurality of wire rails secured thereto and forming oppositely located frog points.

4:. In a toy crossover, the combination of a supporting plate, and a plurality of wires bent to form angularly related rails and frog points.

5. In a toy railway, the combination of a supporting member, and a plurality of wire rails secured thereto and forming oppositely located frog points, said member having bent up rail portions.

6. In a toy crossover, the combination of a supporting plate, and a plurality of wires bent to form angularly related rails and frog ,points, said plate having bent up rail portions spaced from said frog points.

7. A toy crossover comprising a sheet metal plate bent or stamped up to form a plurality of rail portions, and a plurality of angularly located wire rails carried by said plate.

8. A toy crossover comprising a sheet metal plate having certain edges thereof bent or coiled to form rail portions, and wire rail members carried by said plate and terminating in frog points adjacent to said rail portions.

9. A toy crossover comprising a supporting plate, and a plurality of opposed wire crossing frogs carried by said plate, said plate having rail portions intermediate said frogs.

10. A toy crossover comprising a supporting plate, and a plurality of opposed wire crossing frogs carried by said plate, said plate having bent up rail portions intermediate said frogs and extending in continuation of parts thereof.

11. A toy crossover comprising pairs of wire rail sections having a plurality of intersecting points, a plate connected thereto and having a part bent to form rail portions intermediate said intersecting points.

12. A toy crossover comprising pairs of wire rail sections having a plurality of intersecting points, a plate connected thereto and having a part bent to form rail portions intermediate said intersecting points, said plate having a central opening, and a terminal connector having a part thereof extending upwardly through said opening.

13. In a toy railway, the combination of a plurality of wire track sections, a crossing member having intersecting wire track sections, and means for releasably connecting certain of said sections together.

14. In a toy railway, the combination of a plurality of wire track sections, a crossing member having intersection wire track sections, and means for releasably connecting certain of said sections together and forming a spring joint.

15. In a toy railway, the combination of a track section comprlsing a pair of spaced wire rails, and a crossing member having wire rails and adapted to be releasably connected tosaid section.

16. In a toy railway, the combination of a section comprising a pair of spaced wire rails having wire-formed supporting means, and a crossing member having wire rails and adapted to be releasably connected to said section. 17. In a toy railway, the combination of a crossing member having wire-formed rails, and a power rail detachably connected thereto.

18. In a toy railway, the combination of a crossing member having wire-formed rails, and a wire power rail detachably connected thereto.

' 19. In a toy railway, the combination of a track section having a wire rail, a crossing member havin a wire rail adapted to be located in substantial prolongation with said first wire rail, and means for releasably connect-ing said wire rails together.

20. In a toy railway, a crossing member comprising a wire rail terminating in a clamping member, and a wire rail detachably connected to said clamping member.

21. In a toy railway, the combination of a crossing member having wire rails, and a track section adapted to be detachably connected to said crossover and comprising wire ties and wire rails connected thereto.

22. In a toy railway, the combination of a crossing member, a terminal connector having spring contact portions projecting at opposite sides of the crossover, and a wire rail releasably connected to said crossover and engaging one of said contacts.

23. In a toy railway, the combination of a crossing member, and a terminal connector extending crosswise beneath said member and having terminal spring contacting portions.

24. A toy railway crossover comprising supporting means, wire traction rails, and a wire power rail.

25. A toy railway crossover comprising 1,4aa;esa

supporting IHQZHIS Wi-IYG traction rails, a wire- 227. A crossing member comprising sup power rail, and a) rail portion formed from porting means; and Wire mils welded said supponting means; 'theret0.-

26'. In a toy railwam a. crossing member Signed'at Buffalo, New Yank, thisflflth. 5 comprising a wirerail', wtmck secbionscomday OCEQAPP-il', 1923..

prising a: wire rail, and: clamping meansf'or releasably connecting saicl' rai'ls end" tam-end; FERGUSSON. 

